The seventh air monitor in North Texas' Barnett Shale went on line this week in the Everman area in south Tarrant County to provide "information about local air quality 24 hours a day, 365 days a year," the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said.

The commission said it's also evaluating Barnett Shale sites for more monitors.

State Sen. Wendy Davis and state Rep. Marc Veasey, both D-Fort Worth, praised the installation of the monitor. Read more »

Oil dropped nearly 2 percent Friday August 5, 2011 as investors shrugged off U.S. job gains and focused on lingering concerns about the global economy.

Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude for September delivery fell $1.70 to $84.93 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Prices pulled back from an early surge. A government report on Friday morning showed employers added 117,000 jobs in July. Unemployment fell slightly, to 9.1 percent. The news helped push crude as high as $88.32 before it tapped off. Read more »

Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) issued original analysis today examining the drivers and impacts of the recent surge in U.S. oil production. The report finds that high oil prices and innovative development techniques are combining to place substantial new resources on the table in the United States, with potentially game-changing consequences for economic and national security. The report makes a series of recommendations designed to safely expand the production of domestic oil resources, including a series of regulatory reforms. Read more »

Whenever oil or gas production begins, the landowner is entitled to part of the total production. A royalty is agreed upon as a percentage of the lease, minus what was reasonably used in the Lessee's production costs. The royalty is paid by the Lessee to the owner of the mineral rights, the Lessor in the Lease. It is based on a percentage of the gross production from the property and is free and clear of all costs, except for taxes. Read more »